Tax Accountant Job Description, Duties, Salary and More

What is a Tax Accountant?

Tax Accountants are financial experts in both accounting and taxation law who help individuals, companies, and other groups track and file their taxes. Helping to ensure that taxes are filed properly and educating clients regarding tax regulations specific to their industries are also part of the Tax Accountant job description. They also help clients prepare and submit tax documents, gather required documentation, review accounting practices, project tax burdens, avoid mistakes that could land them in financial or legal trouble, and take advantage of programs designed to offer tax relief in their particular situations.

What are the usual duties and responsibilities of a Tax Accountant?

Typical tasks performed by a Tax Accountant may include:

• Prepare forms for annual income tax filing for individuals and organizations
• Review tax forms prepared by clients to verify that they're accurate and correctly documented
• Educate clients about how the tax law applies to them and how to properly complete tax forms
• Help clients collect and organize financial documentation needed to file taxes
• Interview clients to collect personal information and determine eligibility for relevant deductions, exemptions, grants, or other financial support programs
• Maintain expert and up-to-date knowledge of the tax code through continuous education
• Determine how complex tax regulations apply to clients in specific situations
• Help clients accurately project tax burdens using accounting best practices

What is the average Tax Accountant salary?

Indeed.com reports that the average annual base salary for a Tax Accountant in the United states is $68,681.

Glassdoor.com reports the average annual base salary for Tax Accountants at $60,0432 per year, with an estimated total pay of $87,839. They estimate that the average total pay usually ranges between $61 and $160k per year. They estimate total compensation for new Tax Accountants in their first year of experience to average around $90k.

These numbers will vary based on locale, experience, the type of employer, and other factors.

Top Cities to work in as a Tax Accountant

While by no means a comprehensive or definitive list, Indeed.com reports some of the highest salaries for Tax Accountant jobs in the following cities. Also included is the cost of living index and city populations as reported by Numbeo and World Population Review.

St. Louis, MO

Average Tax Accountant salary: $101,729 per year (based on 17 reported salaries).

Cost of living index: 68.18

Population: 298,034

Boston, MA

Average Tax Accountant salary: $90,117 per year (based on 16 reported salaries).

Cost of living index: 84.59

Population: 687,257

Irvine, CA

Average Tax Accountant salary: $81,224 per year (based on 24 reported salaries).

Cost of living index: Not Listed

Population: 326,730

Philadelphia, PA

Average Tax Accountant salary: $76,812 per year (based on 10 reported salaries).

Cost of living index: 76.89

Population: 1,619,355

New York, NY

Average Tax Accountant salary: $75,959 per year (based on 124 reported salaries).

Cost of living index: 100

Population: 8,930,002

Houston, TX

Average Tax Accountant salary: $72,522 per year (based on 79 reported salaries).

Cost of living index: 66.85

Population: 2,345,606

Denver, CO

Average Tax Accountant salary: $68,089 per year (based on 31 reported salaries).

Cost of living index: 79.83

Population: 738,594

Phoenix, AZ

Average Tax Accountant salary: $67,784 per year (based on 25 reported salaries).

Cost of living index: 73.62

Population: 1,640,641

Orlando, FL

Average Tax Accountant salary: $66,399 per year (based on 10 reported salaries).

Cost of living index: 69.92

Population: 321,427